A recent Washington Post article about Farm Sanctuary, the nation's largest farm animal rescue operation, gently reminded me of a persistent dream: Second Chance Ranch - where one-eyed goats, three-legged sheep and blind horses freely soak up love. My dream includes foster kids (that I would hope to adopt) who would gleefully help me run the place. Crazy, huh?

For those who follow the progress of North Shore Animal League America's famous Chihuahua trio, Venus, Carmen and Pablo, there's news: these charming dogs, born without their front legs and rescued by the League from a Virginia shelter, now have front-wheel drive, in the form of carts that will assist their mobility.